Khanya Leshabela Explained

Khanya Leshabela
Fullname:Thakgalo Khanya Leshabela[1]
Birth Date:18 September 1999[2]
Birth Place:Soshanguve, South Africa
Height:1.75 m[3]
Position:Midfielder
Currentclub:Enfield Town
Youthyears1:2008–2009
Youthclubs1:Parklands Tigers
Youthyears2:2009–2013
Youthclubs2:Gregory Celtics
Youthyears3:2013–2021
Youthclubs3:Leicester City
Years1:2021–2023
Clubs1:Leicester City
Caps1:1
Goals1:0
Years2:2021–2022
Clubs2:Shrewsbury Town (loan)
Caps2:3
Goals2:0
Years3:2022–2023
Clubs3:Crewe Alexandra (loan)
Caps3:10
Goals3:0
Years4:2024
Clubs4:Cape Town City
Caps4:8
Goals4:0
Years5:2024–
Caps5:0
Goals5:0
Nationalyears1:2019
Nationalteam1:South Africa U20
Nationalcaps1:3
Nationalgoals1:0
Club-Update:4 August 2024

Thakgalo Khanya Leshabela (born 18 September 1999) is a South African soccer player who plays as a midfielder for club Enfield Town.

Born in Soshanguve, South Africa, Leshabela grew up in Northampton, England. He started his career at Leicester City where he signed his first professional contract in January 2019 before making his Premier League debut in March 2021.

Early life

Leshabela was born in the township of Soshanguve, near Pretoria, though his parents were originally from Limpopo.[4] At the age of 2, Leshabela moved from South Africa to Northampton, England. He was educated at Northampton Academy.[5]

Club career

He began his career with the academies of Parklands Tigers and Gregory Celtics, before moving to Leicester City in 2013. He signed a three-and-a-half-year professional contract with the club in January 2019.[6] Leshabela made his Premier League debut with Leicester as an 81st-minute substitute during a 5–0 victory against Sheffield United on 14 March 2021.[7] [8] Following his debut, manager Brendan Rodgers praised Leshabela, stating that "he's a young player who has worked very hard", adding that "he has got qualities and he came into the game and showed a nice confidence".[9]

On 19 August 2021, Leshabela joined EFL League One club Shrewsbury Town on a season-long loan.[10] He made his League One debut on 21 August 2021 as a 71st-minute substitute during a 0–3 defeat against Plymouth Argyle.[11] After struggling for game time, manager Steve Cotterill said that Leshabela's loan had been a 'punt' and his position at the club would be reassessed in the January transfer window.[12] On 27 January 2022, his loan spell was terminated.[13]

On 26 July 2022, Leshabela joined EFL League Two club Crewe Alexandra on a six-month loan deal,[14] and made a substitute appearance in Crewe's opening game of the 2022–23 season, a 2–1 victory over Rochdale at Spotland on 30 July 2022.[15] He made his first Crewe start on 9 August 2022, playing in an EFL League Cup first round defeat at Grimsby Town.[16]

In February 2024, Leshabela returned to his native South Africa to sign for Cape Town City.[17] He made his debut in the against SuperSport United.[18]

In August 2024, Leshabela returned to England, joining National League South side Enfield Town.[19]

International career

Leshabela has represented South Africa at under-20 level, having played at the 2019 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations and the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup.[20]

Style of play

Leshabela plays primarily as a winger but can also play as an attacking midfielder.[21] In August 2019, Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers praised Leshabela, stating that "he's dynamic, he is physical, he has good fitness, a nice touch of the ball and he has an understanding of how to play the game tactically, which is very important."[22]

Career statistics

ClubSeasonDivisionLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Leicester City U212017–18-0000001010
2018–19-0000002020
2019–20-0000006060
2020–21-0000003030
Leicester City2020–21Premier League1000000010
Total100000120130
Shrewsbury Town (loan)2021–22League One3020103090
Crewe Alexandra (loan)2022–23League Two10000 1020130
Total1402020170350

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 26 June 2020 . Premier League clubs publish 2019/20 retained lists . 14 March 2021 . premierleague.com . Premier League.
  2. Web site: FIFA U-20 World Cup Poland 2019: List of Players: South Africa . FIFA . 20 . 13 June 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200206013743/https://www.fifadata.com/document/FWYC/2019/pdf/FWYC_2019_SquadLists.pdf . 6 February 2020.
  3. Web site: Khanya Leshabela . 20 March 2021 . www.lcfc.com . Leicester City F.C..
  4. Web site: Sobayeni . Prince . 21 April 2020 . The journey: Khanya Leshabela goes from strength to strength . 20 March 2021 . FARPost . 16 March 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210316122158/https://www.farpost.co.za/19253/ . dead .
  5. N'pton Academy PE . northacadPE . 1375152769263407110 . Massive congratulations to former @northacad student Thakgalo (Khanya) Leshabela who made his Premier League debut for @LCFC in their 5–0 win over @SheffieldUnited Hopefully the start of many more!!... .
  6. Web site: Khan . Zain . 9 January 2019 . South Africans react to Leshabela's Leicester contract . 20 March 2021 . Goal.
  7. News: Poole . Harry . 14 March 2021 . Iheanacho scores hat-trick against sorry Blades . en-GB . BBC Sport . 20 March 2021.
  8. Web site: Appolis . Dylan . 15 March 2021 . SA youngster Khanya Leshabela makes EPL debut for Leicester . 20 March 2021 . FourFourTwo.
  9. Web site: Gillion . Baden . 16 March 2021 . 'He has got qualities' – Brendan Rodgers praises SA youngster after Leicester City debut . 20 March 2021 . News24.
  10. News: Youngster Leshabela In Shrewsbury Loan . 19 August 2021 . Leicester City Football Club . 19 August 2021.
  11. News: Shrewsbury Town 0–3 Plymouth Argyle . 21 August 2021 . BBC Sport . 21 August 2021.
  12. News: Cox . Lewis . Steve Cotterill: Khanya Leshabela Leicester loan was a ‘punt’ for Shrewsbury Town . 31 December 2021 . Shropshire Star . 22 September 2021.
  13. News: Khanya Leshabela returns to Leicester City . 27 January 2022 . Shrewsbury Town . 27 January 2022.
  14. Web site: Leicester Midfielder Khanya Leshabela Signs Loan Deal. www.crewealex.net. 26 July 2022. 26 July 2022.
  15. News: Rochdale 1-2 Crewe Alexandra . 30 July 2022 . BBC Sport . 30 July 2022.
  16. News: Grimsby Town 4-0 Crewe Alexandra . 9 August 2022 . BBC Sport . 9 August 2022.
  17. News: Buckerfield . Kurt . Official: CT City Sign Former Leicester City Player . 21 February 2024 . SNL24 . 19 February 2024.
  18. News: Cape Town City set to lose Brice Ambina to European market. Molefe, Mazola. 21 February 2024. SABC Sport. 16 March 2024.
  19. Web site: Four New Recruits. etfc.london. 2 August 2024. 4 August 2024.
  20. Web site: Ditlhobolo . Austin . 14 March 2021 . South African starlet Leshabela makes Premier League debut for Leicester City . 20 March 2021 . Goal.
  21. Web site: Blackwell . Jordan . 8 January 2019 . Who is Khanya Leshabela? Lowdown on City youngster . 20 March 2021 . LeicestershireLive.
  22. Web site: Blackwell . Jordan . 10 August 2019 . City starlets should be ready for first-team call-ups – Rodgers . 20 March 2021 . LeicestershireLive.